Santalum acuminatum A.Dc.

Shrub or small tree to 6 m, sometimes forming clones by means of underground stolons. Bark rough, dark grey. Branchlets spreading to pendulous. Leaves lanceolate, often falcate, flat, acute; lamina 3–9 cm long, 3–15 mm wide, concolorous, yellowish-green; petiole 3–8 mm long. Flowers numerous in panicles; peduncle 5–10 mm long; pedicels 1–2 mm long. Receptacle 1 mm long. Tepals ovate-triangular, 1–2 mm long, scurfy inside, green or orange, persistent in fruit. Disc shortly lobed. Style c. 0.5 mm long; stigma bilobed. Drupe 15–25 mm diam.; epicarp bright shining red, rarely yellow; mesocarp firm, easily freed from endocarp when ripe; endocarp rugose.

A tropical plant. It is native to Australia. It grows naturally in sandy soils in the drier interior regions of Australia. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 900 m altitude. In the Inland Botanical Gardens Mildura. They are grown commercially near Quorn, South Australia. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

The ripe fruit are eaten raw or cooked. They can be dried for later use. They can be used for jam and pies, syrups and chutneys. The seeds or nuts are eaten roasted. The seed kernel is 60% oil.

Plants are grown from seed. They grow as a parasite on other roots.